It has emerged that the compensation package received by Leeds United from Spurs for Gus Poyet was a payment of 565,000 pounds, which has been reportedly been made available for boss Dennis Wise to strengthen the ranks during the January transfer window. The news will be sure to increase the valuations placed on any potential targets, Ipswich Town's Sammy Moore being the latest to be linked with the Whites.
However, it seems Wise has no intention of embarking on a spending spree, seemingly content with the squad he currently has at his disposal. And after 13 league wins from 16 matches, with only one defeat, the boss is of the opinion that 'if it ain't broke, then don't fix it.' Part of the reason for Wise's confidence with his existing options is the emergence of several of the youth team players in recent weeks. Paul Huntington, Jonny Howson, Curtis Weston, Ben Parker and Simon Madden have all made solid contributions to the first team and handed the manager some welcome selection dilemmas.
'There aren't too many people I am looking at to be honest because I don't need too many,' said Wise. 'There are one or two younger players who have impressed me and done well so maybe it's their turn and time for them to have a go, but we will only know in the next couple of weeks if it was the right thing to do.'
The form of Morley youngster Howson has been particularly eye-catching, the 19-year-old delivering a man of the match performance to inspire United to victory over Swindon Town on Saturday. 'Jonny Howson has been outstanding,' drooled Wise. 'Everybody wants to talk about the goalscorers and the position we are in but I want to talk about Jonny. Over the last week we have changed the team and put a few youngsters in. They have come out with flying colours.'
'It would have been easy for me to have gone with Alan Thompson and Kish instead of Jonny, but he deserved to play in the team, and he showed again today why - so its a pat on the back for him.'
